S211A Miltary Jet Trainer, Italy

The SIAI Marchetti S211 supplied by Aermacchi is a military jet pilot trainer in operation with the air forces of Haiti, the Philippines and Singapore. S211A, the latest high-performance version of the aircraft, has full acrobatic capability and can be armed with a range of weapon systems.

The aircraft provides excellent flight performance in the mission role and in acrobatic demonstrations. With a load factor of +7 to Ð3.5g, a maximum speed of 414 KTAS (knots true air speed) at an altitude of 25,000ft and a rate of climb of 5,100ft per minute, the aircraft provides military pilot training in a true jet environment.

S211A jet trainer design

The airframe design makes wide use of structural bonding and composite materials, including Kevlar, Nomex and carbon fibre composites.

The aircraft's electrical system is based on a 28V DC negative ground system powered by engine-driven starter generator. A nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery is provided for engine starting and operation in emergency conditions. Two static inverters provide the AC supply for instruments and avionics.

Weapons

The aircraft has five hardpoints: two under each wing and one under the centre fuselage. The hardpoints can carry a range of weapon systems, including bomb and rocket dispenser for MK76, MK 106 or 50/68 mm rockets; bombs and practice bomb containers up to 250kg; bomb and napalm containers up to 350kg; rocket launchers from 50 to 100mm; gun pods for 7.62mm, 20mm and 12.7mm guns; and 74mm cartridge launchers.

The hardpoints can also carry smoke generators, parachuting containers, photographic and reconnaissance pods, and two auxiliary tanks, each with a capacity of 270 litres of fuel.

Cockpit

The cockpit can be equipped with a head-up display (HUD) with a weapon aiming computer (HUDWAC).

An environmental control system provides automatic temperature control. The non-ozone depleting vapour cycle for cooling is integrated with the engine bleed air for heating and cockpit pressurisation. The pressurised and air conditioned cabin is fitted with two MK 10 zero zero ejection seats supplied by the UK company Martin Baker. The seat is fitted with an emergency oxygen bottle. The high-pressure gaseous high pressure oxygen system has five hours' endurance.

Avionics

The avionics suite is fitted to suit customer mission requirements. Typical configurations include a VHF/UFH communications suite and navigation systems, such as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), with a horizontal situation indicator, automatic direction finding (ADF), VHF omni-directional radio range and instrument landing system (VOR-ILS), a tactical air navigation system (TACAN) and an air traffic control (ATC) and information friend or foe (IFF) transponder.

Engine

The S211A is powered by a JTI 5D-5C Turbofan engine supplied by Pratt & Whitney of Canada. The engine has a bypass ratio of 2.0:1 and the specific fuel consumption is 0.57lb/h/lb. The engine provides a thrust of 3,190lb.

The aircraft carries 236 US gallons of fuel internally in the integral wing tank and fuselage bladder cell. A double-ended turbine pump powers the transfer of fuel from wing tank to fuselage tank and to the engine. Refuelling is from a single fill point on the wing either by gravity flow or by an optional pressure refuelling system. Two additional drop tanks can be fitted on the inner hardpoints on the wings, each with a capacity of 270 litres.

Maximum speed of the S117A at 25,000ft is 414 knots and dive speed is 400 knots. Rate of climb is 5,100ft per minute.